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BREAKING NEWS: Cabell Midland Student Dies of Possible Case of Swine Flu

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A student a Cabell Midland High School has died of a possible case of swine flu.

That word Sunday morning from Jed Flowers, a spokesperson for Cabell County Schools.

Flowers tells WSAZ.com that the student was not in school on Thursday or Friday. He says counselors will be be available for students and faculty.

Flowers also tells WSAZ.com that the school system is working with the health department to see if any procedures relating to the flu need to be reviewed.

He also says that Cabell County Schools have relaxed their attendance policy because of the number of illnesses.

The temporary policy is that students can be absent for 5 days with just a note from parents, then a note from a doctor is required.

Students who have been ill cannot return to school until they have gone at least 24 hours with a temperature of less than 100 degrees.

In the past few weeks, two other people have died of swine flu in Cabell County.

http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/63458407.html

Family members tell WSAZ.com that the Cabell Midland High School student who died from Swine Flu is 14-year-old Patrick Wheeler.

The Cabell-Huntington Health Department says they are working closely with the Cabell County School System in regard to school closings. At this time, all schools remain open and on a regular schedule.



Counselors will be at Cabell Midland tomorrow to assist students and staff members coping with this sudden loss.

http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/63458407.html

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"I was shocked," Cabell Midland High School Freshman, David Jobe, said. "I've never really experienced somebody that I went to school with pass away. I was kind of shocked and didn't know what to think."

Students at Cabell Midland High School are still in shock after hearing about the sudden death of fellow classmate, 14-year-old Patrick Wheeler, who passed away Saturday night.

"I was pretty surprised," CMHS Freshman, Morgan Szekely, said. "You never really think it can happen like that."

The Cabell County Board of Education and the Cabell-Huntington Health Department are not confirming the name of the student, but friends and classmates are saying the state's latest swine flu death is infact Wheeler.

"He seemed like a pretty friendly guy," Szekely said. "He had lots of friends."

"He had a lot of friends, but he was kind of quiet," Jobe said.

"We're just so deeply saddened about the loss of this student," Jedd Flowers said. "Our hearts really go out to the family and friends who lost somebody special."

Flowers works with the Cabell County Schools System. He says right now it is natural for parents to be concerned and worried about their children. But, he says the Board is fully cooperating with the Health Dept., trying to keep the spreading of the flu at bay. He also says there's no reason for panic and no reason to shut down the school system.

"We're continuing with school as usual," Flowers said. "But asking if you're sick to stay home. Parents, please keep kids home if you suspect they have the flu."

The flu...something students say they hear about all the time, but never think it could happen to them.

"You hear about it in other places, but when [it affects] someone close to you...it comes across surprising," Szekely said.

Flowers says counselors will be available starting Monday at CMHS for any student needing help to cope with their classmate's death.

http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitne ... 4_30.shtml

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I believe the student was a wrestler in 8th grade

http://www.wvmat.com/temp/2009wsazmsentries.pdf

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http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2009 ... ---100509/

Swine Flu Confirmed in Mercer County Schools
Posted Monday, October 5, 2009 ; 05:13 PM | View Comments | Post Comment

http://www.wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=vi ... ryid=67941



County Health Department says there are at least 5 cases.

PRINCETON -- Mercer County Health Department officials say at least 5 children in the county have confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus.
Health Department Administrator, Melody Rickman says there are more than 200 children in the school system with seasonal flu.

Rickman says prevention is key. She advises children and adults to wash their hands frequently.

She says it is also important for anyone with flu-like symptoms to seek medical care and to avoid contact with others.

Rickman says the H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available in Mercer County in a couple of weeks.

The first doses were released in the country today. Those first vaccines are going to health care workers.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Dr. Cathy Slemp, the state health officer in West Virginia, addressed people's concerns Monday about the H1N1/swine flu spreading throughout our region.

Slemp wanted to reassure parents and everyone else that swine flu does not have to be so scary. During the news conference, she said that the number of cases of swine flu are rising, but are not even close to the levels of what the state sees during the regular flu season.



She also said schools all over the state are following health department guidelines. As a mother herself, Slemp said she can understand feeling anxious. but it's important to keep things in perspective.

"I can share with you that my kids are in school in Cabell County today, and I'd expect they will be tomorrow, as well, because I know that the local health department and the school is working closely together to monitor situations to take the right measure to prevent disease and follow through with what needs to happen to keep our kids safe," she said.

Slemp also said health officials are no longer keeping track of individual cases of swine flu. Instead, they are tracking cases of flu like symptoms.

Slemp encouraged hand washing and covering one's mouth to protect from getting illnesses, including swine flu.

Students Carrying Swine Flu



There are 63 cases of swine flu in Jackson County and the majority of those cases are students.

Wendy Crawford with the Jackson County Health Department said that there are 34 confirmed H1N1 cases in Ripley High School.

Superintendent Blaine Hess confirmed that 200 of the students at the high school were out sick Monday. 1,005 students attend Ripley High School.

Ripley Middle School has 10 confirmed cases and 140 students were absent from the school on Monday. 760 students attend Ripley Middle School.

The health department and the Jackson County Board of Education are working closely together to contain the situation.

The Wood County Board of Education said they are monitoring the H1N1 in their schools.

"As a matter of fact we have been notified of an H1N1 case in Wood County schools and some Type A Influenza. So we are keeping an eye on this...the health department and the superintendent and I will be meeting weekly to continue to monitor this situation, " said Teresa Bayer, the Coordinator of Health Services for Wood County Schools.

Bayer said that after the H1N1 vaccine is made available they will be offering it to their students of Wood County Elementary Schools as soon as October 26th.
http://www.wtap.com/home/headlines/63561502.html

There is virtually no seasonal flu at this time in the United States. All or virtually all of the 200 children with flu have swine flu.

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